Staff Reports
Government oversight is back in the spotlight as Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas has officially called for a deeper investigation into the Secret Service’s handling of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. A request was made to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General to broaden their current inquiry, which is nice because who wouldn’t want a little extra scrutiny on how the agency supposedly protects the powerful?
Senator Marshall’s request indicates concerns that the Secret Service might have been less than forthcoming about denying Trump campaign requests for added protective resources. It seems there are questions swirling about the agency’s protocol for assigning duties and delegation of responsibility during events—questions, mind you, that should have been answered before someone attempted to put a bullet into Trump’s head. While the Secret Service remains tight-lipped, Marshall’s frustration with the lack of transparency is palpable, especially after recent congressional hearings where it felt less like oversight and more like a poorly choreographed dance around real answers.
DHS watchdog asked to broaden investigations into Trump assassination attempt https://t.co/G3xK2wdXha
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 10, 2024
The ongoing investigations focus on an attempt on Trump’s life by a twenty-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was unfortunately stopped dead in his tracks—quite literally—by the Secret Service’s counter-sniper team. However, rather than basking in glory for their split-second response, the agency is instead caught in a whirlwind of scrutiny regarding how well they secured the Pennsylvania rally where this incident transpired. One can’t help but wonder if they were simply unprepared to handle such a blatant threat to a former president.
Adding to the chaos, at least five Secret Service agents have found themselves on administrative leave. This includes the head of the Pittsburgh field office, which took the brunt of scrutiny for guarding Trump at the rally. One could argue that putting agents on leave is just a classic way of sidestepping accountability. Marshall has made clear that, approximately two months after this assassination attempt, the Secret Service has yet to answer for its failures. His demand for accountability is justified; after all, this is an agency that’s supposed to be one of the best at safeguarding our leaders, not playing peek-a-boo with transparency.
In light of this mess, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle exited her position within mere weeks following the attack—a decision likely driven by the flames of bipartisan outrage over the agency’s transparency issues. Some senators are even suggesting that future directors of the Secret Service should be Senate confirmed; at present, that appointment is solely in the president’s hands. Perhaps it’s time to ensure that the agency tasked with protecting the President is vetted more thoroughly, lest they continue to suffer from a debilitating case of “we can’t tell you anything.” After all, trust in law enforcement is built on accountability, and it seems the Secret Service might need a refresher course.
